EU should add an anti-corruption clause in deals with non-EU countries

The recent ‘Azerbaijani Laundromat’ revelations should be investigated and the ‘Magnitsky’ sanctions list adopted by the EU, urged MEPs on Wednesday.

MEPs condemn the recent ‘Azerbaijani Laundromat’ revelations, "attempts by Azerbaijan and other autocratic regimes in third countries to influence European decision-makers through illicit means", in a resolution approved by 578 votes, to 19, with 68 abstentions. The European Parliament should investigate and adopt robust measures to prevent such corruption occurring, they add.

Call for adoption of the ‘Magnitsky list’

Corruption is "one of the most neglected causes of human rights violations" and the European Union should foster international cooperation to fight it, urge MEPs. They call on the EU to:

ensure that existing anti-corruption conventions are enforced;

add an anti-corruption clause to its deals with non-EU countries;

monitor EU-funded projects closely and permanently, in cooperation with local anti-corruption agencies;

as a last resort, use sanctions or suspend deals in cases of systemic corruption leading to serious human rights breaches;

bring the Magnitsky sanctions list against the 32 Russian state officials responsible for the death of Russian whistle-blower Sergei Magnitsky to the Council as soon as possible for its adoption, and impose targeted sanctions against these officials.

Petras Auštrevičius (ALDE, LT), rapporteur, said: “With Lux Leaks, Panama Leaks, Russia and Azerbaijan Laundromats, we realise that corruption stretches far across state borders, and has dramatic repercussions on policy decisions. Through this report, we call for the highest possible ethical and transparency standards to be upheld in international and national bodies and for the EU to set up a legal framework to deter any type of corruption and fraud.”